The state appears to have taken its collective eye off the ball. For too preoccupied has it been with ‘engineered protests’ that seek social justice for the Pashtuns that it had seemingly forgotten about the 21 million residents of Karachi. And their right to electricity, water as well as functioning sewerage system. Already political parties were out on the streets at the end of last week; with more demonstrations scheduled for today. Prime Minister Abbasi has called an emergency meeting on Monday to get to the bottom of the crisis. It is unacceptable that the people of Karachi have had to endure, in some areas, up to 18 consecutive hours of loadshedding; particularly given that just 1 percent of the local population can afford generators. Equally troubling is how the 1.5 million-strong traders’ community is threatening to shut up shop. This is, after all, the country’s financial hub. The K-E (formerly the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, KESC) power utility says its hands are tied due to gas supply shortages that have resulted in a 500MW-shortfall. This has had a knock-on effect on the Karachi Water and Sewage Board; prompting a water crisis in the city. Political parties, however, seem more interested in playing the blame-game in concerted efforts to whitewash their own records on this front. The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), for example is pointing the finger not only at the ruling PPP but also at the MQM; for it was on the latter’s watch that the KESC was privatised. While accountability is necessary — it does not offer immediate relief. And this is what the people of Karachi desperately need. Sadly, even in the long-term, issues such as access to uninterrupted electricity supplies are not sufficiently glamourous for political leaderships — both at the provincial and federal level — to prioritise. This is nothing short of criminal. Pakistan is currently not on schedule to meet any of its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) commitments. And the ongoing lack of electricity and water supplies as well as sewerage services impact each and every human index ranking. For the former are critical to fundamental infrastructure; without which Pakistan will remain, for example, the world’s most dangerous nation for childbirth. Its children will similarly remain out of school without functioning classrooms while being vulnerable to cholera outbreaks. A not insignificant matter considering the country is the world’s worst offender when it comes to the number or children who ought to be in full-time education but are not. It is hoped that PM Abbasi puts all this on the emergency meeting agenda. After all, it is not rocket science. * Published in Daily Times, April 22nd 2018.